warwick



(No Model.) v 2 Sheets-@Sheet 1, G. T. WARWICK.

SAFETY BICYCLE. No. 399,455. Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-'-Sheet 2. G. T. WARWICK.

SAFETY BICYCLE.

No. 399,455. Patented Mar. 12, 1889.

Wdmeoo/m, @44mm/150%,

| mrwgmprmr. www, n. c.

TTen STATES PATENT Ormes.

(,llCORGE T. 'ARlVlCK, OF SPRlGFIIClil), )IASSACHUtiE'VPS.

SAFETY-BICYCLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,455, dated March 12, 1889.

Application filed September 3. 1888. Serial No. 284-439. (No model.)

To al whom t may concern:

lie it known that l, Gnostic 'l`. Zinwreie a citizen of Great Britain, residing at Springfield, in the county of llampden and State of Q Massachusetts, have invented new and useful correspond to the contour of the frontwheel at the intermediate horizontal port-ion rigidly joined by a lock-forging or other suitable improvements in Safety-Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

'lhis invention ljlarticularly relates to the class of road-vehicles known as safety-bicycles, and it consists', iirst, in the construction of the main supportilig-frame, and, secondly, in the construction of steering mechanism, whereby on the turning of the handlesproeket carrying bracket l2, and brake mechanism lll. 'lhe said frame is formed of two metallic tubes arranged side by side and preferably slightly sepz'uated at their forward portions, forming the backbone, curved to connecting means, as shown at j', and the said tubes toward their rear end slightly diverge with relation to each other to form the fork for the rear wheel, each diverging leg of the fork preferably tapering rearwardly, all sublever a less extent of rotary motion is imf parted to the front fork and front or steering the intermediate portions of the frame is to wheel carried thereby; and the invention consists in the construction and combination i of parts, substantially as will hereinafter fully appear, and in accordance with the claims hereinafter recited.

In the accompanying drawings the form of machine known asa safety-bicycle is illustrated, and Figure l is a side elevation with the head portion in central vertical section for better illustration. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the machine; and Fig. is a sectional view of the frame on the line f3 S, parts of said stantially as shown in Figs. l and The said lock-forging or connecting-web between be properly apertured and otherwise formed and adapted to sustain and permit of the proper operation and elfect of the parts hereinbefore mentioned as may be found necessary in construction, and more than one intermediate joining-web may be provided, if deemed necessary.

The rear taperingl legs of the rear-wheel fork may retain a circular cross-section, or may, if preferred, be of elliptical cross-secv tion, and again, if desired, the forks may be,

frame beyond such section being shown in rear elevation. View, enlarged, of the motion-reducing mechanism between the steering-spindle and frontln Sheet 2, Fig. #l is a plan i i l i i tions of two modified constructions of the motion-reducing mechanism, and to be considered as within the terms of the claim to such mechanism.

Similar characters indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

A and B represent the forward and rear wheels of the safety-bicycle, of or substantially of the same size and form.

C represents the frame comprising the backbone ci. for the front wheel, the fork b to horizontally embrace the rear wheel and support same in bearings carried at the outer. ends of the legs thereof, and intermediately of said backbone and fork a horizontal portion, d, for suspending certain of the essential parts and mechanisms, as the saddlesupporting riser lO, adjustable crank and in cross-section, of any desired form, as iiat or are-shaped.

At the upper and forward end of the backbone is rigidly connected a head-frame, E, of suitable form to support and form bea-rings for the handle-bar or steering-spindle G, and the spindle J, carrying the front-wheel fork.

As in the present class of bicycles the wheels are geared or sprocketed down, whereby on one revolution of the crank two or more rotations may be imparted to the wheels, the slightest deflection of the front fork to either side will cause the forward wheel to depart widely from a straight course, and it requires the exercise of painful care and manipulation of the handle-bar to properly guide the ma.- chine.

The present improvement, to overcome the disadvantages mentioned, consists in providing a connection between thehandle-bar spindie and front-fork spindle, whereby on the turning of the former a decreased motion will be imparted to the latter, and a large variety of expedients to this end maybe employed.

IOO

The one shownin'Figs. 2 and el. consists of providing a spur-gear, on, of comparatively large diameter, on the fork-spindle, and a spungearm., of reduced diameter, on the handlebar spindle, and inorder to secure a rota tion otf both spindles in the same relative directions a pinion, p, is interposed between the large and small gears.

As shown in Fig. l, the head is formed in two tiers, q, one above the other, rigidly joined, and thus longer bearings for the spindles are insured, and it is desirable to duplicate the motion-reducing mechanism between the spindles to insure a more even working of the parts. Each tier of the bearing-head has a shallow rabbet chamber, l, formed therein, within which the gearing` or other equivalent mechanism may be disposed, said parts being covered by inclosing-caps s.

.In Figs. 5 and G motion-reducing devices for the purpose described are shown, the former consisting of a comparatively short lever, u, secured on the handle-bar spindle and acting by ,its outer end against the swinging end ofacomparatively long yoke-lever, r, which by its other end is secured on the ferie spindle, a friction-roller, u', being` preferably provided on the swinging end of the short lever, and in Fig. 6 is shown Aa yoke, r, at tached by one end to the fork-spindle, havin its swinging end portion formed with a segmental rack, af, and with which meshes a pinion, y, fixed on the handle-bar spindle, a considerable extent of rotation of which et'- iects a lessened extent oi' rotation on the forkspindle.

Other devices may be employed for the purpose described than those shown-such, for instance, as large and small sliroeket-wheels or pulleys on the'handle and fork spindles and a chain or belt between them.

NVhat I claim as my invention isl. A frame for safety-bicycles, consisting of two tubes ranging in parallelism and joined together, curved at their forward end portion to forni the backbone for the forward wheel,

and to the rear of which they extend horizontally and form suitable carrying-supports for other parts of the machine, as described, and the rear-wheel fork, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a bicycle, the combination, with the forward and rear wheels, which are of substantially the saine diameters, and a fork carrying the front wheel'provided with a vertically-extending spin die-bearing for rotation in the stationary head of the bicycle, and a separate vertically ext-enclin g handle bar spindle, also bearing 'for rotation in said head, of a motion-reducing connection on and between the said handle-'bar and vt'orl: spindles, whereby on the rotation of the former a ro tation of less extent is impart-ed to the latter spindle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a bicycle, the iiill`)i11ai;i 'in, with a suitable head-'frame and the front fork having a spindle-bearing for rotation in said head, provided with .a spur-gear, of; the handle-spindle hearing for rotation in said head-frame provided with a spur-gear of less diameter than the one on the foiili-spilnlle, and an intermediate pinion between and engaging said spindle-gears, sul'istantiall y as and Ior the purpose described.

1. In a bicycle, the combination, with a suitable head-fraine and the front 'fork having a spindle-bearing Vfor rotation in said head,pro vided with a spur-gear, of the handlespindle bearing for rotation in said head-traine, pron vided with a spur-gear oi' less diameter than the one onv the fork-spindle, and an interme diate pinion between and. engaging said spindle-gears, the said frame being provided with a rabbeted chamber, in to which said gear-wheels are disposed, and a cap for inclosing the same, substantially as described.

'GEO T. lVARlVICK. 

